Stripper mechanism for encapsulating machines



Jan. 8, 1952 1 MQULE STRIPPER MECHANISM FOR ENCAPSULATING MACHINES 2 SHEETS-SHEET l O 6 r 5 25 H K 5 e 5 M 0 o Mm V H 4 1 b2 I 4\o Z5 33 3'5 H 7. 6 4 m Filed March 2,. 1951 vJrzmzvztor REX E. MOULE Jan. 8, 1952 R. E. MOULE 2,581,874

STRIPPER MECHANISM FOR ENCAPSULATING MACHINES Filed March 2, 1951 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2 i 2. 07 Q? as 4 3" 64, i; a? me Irmvztar REX E. MOULE Hg. 6

attorney Patented Jan. 8, 1952 STRIPPER MECHANISM FOR ENCAPSU- LATING MACHINES Rex E. Moule, Holden, Mass., assignor to Norton Company, Worcester, Mass., a corporation of Massachusetts Application March 2', 1951, Serial No. 213,626

20 Claims.

The invention relates to a stripper mechanism for encapsulating machines.

One object of the invention is to provide a reliable stripper mechanism to remove capsules from the network of gelatin from which they were formed. Another object of the invention is to provide a compact mechanism of the type indicated. Another object of the invention is to provide a stripper mechanism which tends provide a stripper mechanism having some of the advantages otherwise pointed out and adapted to segregate the capsule into two approximately equal proportions so that the receiving trays, not shown, one on either side of the network will be filled at approximately equal rates. Another object of the invention is to provide a stripper mechanism of the characteristics indicated which can readily be opened up for threading the machine. "Another object of the invention is to provide a stripper mechanism which will successfully operate with gelatin sheets and network of different thickness. Another object of the invention is to provide a stripper mechanism which will readily strip capsules of different sizes and shapes and having different orientations. In this connection some capsules are spheres and others are prolate spheroids and in the latter case the major axis may be disposed at various angles relative to the network.

Other objects will be in part obvious or in part pointed out hereinafter.

In the accompanying drawings illustrating one of many possible embodiments of the mechanical features of this invention;

Figure 1 is a plan view of the stripper mechanism,

Figures 2 and 3 are cross-sectional views taken respectively on the line 2-2 and the line 3-3 of Figure 1,

Figure 4 is a front elevation of the mechanism,

Figure 5 is a side elevation of the mechanism,

Figure 6 is a fragmentary rear elevation show ing a part of the driving mechanism,

' Figure 7 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view taken on the line 1-1 of Figure l.

Referring first to Figure 5, the encapsulating machine has a vertical wall l0 which serves as a support for much of the encapsulating mechanism. Referring'now to Figure 1, the encapsulating mechanism and the stripper mechanism, the latter being more particularly the subject matter of the present invention, are mounted in a frame having a back wall H and a front wall [2, only portions of which are illustrated herein. The encapsulating mechanism which actually forms the capsules l5 from the sheets [6 of gelatin or the like is supported, guided and journalled in this frame which includes the walls H and I2. I shall not herein describe the encapsulating mechanism in detail since the capsules may be formed by any mechanism desired and this present invention deals with mechanism to strip the capsules from the network ll of gelatin and itsrelation to take-up means to keep the network taut. However, the encapsulating mechanism including the apparatus for forming the sheets or ribbons I6, for bringing them together, for forming capsules [5 while filling them with some material such as medicament, for example vitamins, may be as disclosed in my copending application Serial No. 48,912, filed September 11, 1948, now Patent No. 2,549,327, granted April 17, 1951. With regard to terminology, the material is referred to as sheets or ribbons before, it is brought together, then it is, by the mechanism of the above apvplication, formed into tubes one-half of each tube being derived from one sheet or ribbon and the other half being derived from the other. sheet or ribbon, and finally from these tubes the capsules are died out, whereupon the remainder of what originally was the, sheets is referred to as network. This invention, therefore, deals with the material after it has become capsules and network.

It, will be seen from Figure 5 that the capsules [5 extend in horizontal as well as in vertical lines, that is to say after capsule formationthe network ll holds capsules l5 extending for a limited distance vertically and also from edge to edge of the network in a series of parallelhorizontal rows which also forms a series of parallel vertical rows. The purpose of the mechanism of this invention is to strip these capsules from the network and discharge them into trays, not

shown.-- It is.also pointed out that while the die mechanism which forms the capsules cuts the gelatinous tubes annularly and severesome ,of the capsules formed out of the tubes from the .network, others of the capsules are still held to the network by filaments or thin membranes of gelatin, quite tenuous indeed and capable of being broken by mechanical action but nevertheless strong enough to hold the capsules to the network in the absence of mechanical means to force them therefrom.

Referring now to Figures 1, 5, 6 and 7, secured to the vertical wall I0 is a bracket l9 supporture 7, a pinion gear 28 is secured to the shaft at the end thereof opposite the end to whidh the sprocket gear 24 is secured. This'pinion-gear 28 meshes with a small gear 29 which is mounted in a housing 30 (see also; Figure 4) ,seeuredto the back wall I This small gear 29. and av larger gear 3| is secured directly to it are keyed or otherwise removably secured to a. shaft 32, is journalled in the housing 30, the housing 30 having an irregularly shaped opening 33 to 'accom modate the gears 28, a?! and 3|. The housing .0.-

e secured. to w l H in any suit.- abl manner: su h. asbv means or screws 34' (see Figures 1.and7l..

The ear- 3| meshes wi h a eear35 which. as will beseen from. Figure? is a little bit larger than. the ar 31!, but this relationship might readily be 'eyersed and furthermore the gears 3| and. 3.5 m ghtbe the same size. althou h it preflerred tdhave. them slightly: diilerent: ii -size The ear 35. is; securedto. ashafgt 3.6: whichis-suitably iournalgled. a. manner; which will presently be. explained; Before. doing so; the strippers 40 and. 41 mounted on and secured to. the. shafts 3:2 and 3.6; respectively will be described and explained l Theselstripperstdlland 41 are. illustrated in Figures. 1, .31, 4 and 5 and: preferably are. paddles,

using; that wordin the, sense in which it was used to describe the propelling. device of a.- river boat'having astern paddle. They: are preferably 1 made. oi -rubber: and; by.-

I mean rubber which is flexible and easily bent. Such rubber can. be

made out: of thematerial caoutchouc by mixing it with only a minor proportion of sulphur, and

vulcanizing. The paddles. 40. and 4|. are vulcanized to the. shafts 3|iand- 36: respectively so they have to revolve when the shafts are revolved.

thiscembodiment of' the invention eachone is V shown as having fourblades42 although a. lesser or greater number could be providedl Asa further description of the flexibility of thepaddles two. blades which normally: areat an angle of 90 7 to each other can readily bebrought into con- Y 'tiguousand parallel relation by the fingers alone without the use of any tool and neitherare they injured by this test; Naturally some filler is compounded with the caoutchouc the usual filler carbonblaek-being quite satisfactory, and other ingredients will naturally be added such as an accelerator and possibly some zinc oxide; this naturally this comprises other flexible rubberylikematerial'si While I' have given a good example of how flexible isthis rubber which I have actually used; it should be understood th at somewhat stiifer rubber can also be used with good results However some degree of flexibility is I highly desirable and is preferred and I believe it is better to have the rubber about as flexible as indicated. Y

. "f f f t nl n o carer; a d. asse te t9 "theinside of the front wall- |2 as by-means of being a matter for rubber chemists and being a locating pin 45 and a screw 46 is a plate 41 having a bearing 48 journalling the front end of the shaft 32. The shaft 32 and therefore the paddle stripper so are mountedv for rotation on-a edax s,

Referring now to Figure 5, extending between and journalled in the walls H and I2 is a rock s haft50. Referring now to Figures 3 and 5, an irregularlys-hapedlever 5| has at one of its three ends a slot 52 through which extends a clampbQ'SQIQWxfid the slot 52 merges with a hole through which the rock shaft extends. By tightening the screw 53 the irregular lever 5| can be, clamped to. the rock shaft 53. A second end of the lever 5| has a hole 54 by means of which it is connected to a spring 55 the other end of which is connected to a stud 56 projecting r the w ll H:-, N ear the third end or the lever 5| the shaft 35 is journalledin the lever. A screw 58 extends thr u h: this end. of the lever 5| and abuts the housing 33:; by means of the screw 58 the stripper 4'| carrbeiadjusted in. position relative to the; stripper 4.0: within :the limits of relative movement of; the gears; 3| and 35 without causing; them. tor bind or unmesh. It will be seen that the spring 55. urgesthe lever 5| in a counterclockwise direction, Figure to hold the screw 58 against. the housing: 3!! but permitting the lever to bemoved; in a clockwise; direction. by superior force. I

Referring now; to Figure 2, theother end of the shaft 3i;v is journalled in a. bearing 59 provided in one of the; three ends of'an. irregularly shaped lever 5| having a slot 52: anda clam-ping screw 63 by means of which it: can be secured; to the rock. shaft 50. This. leyer' at which is of substantially the sameshapeas the lever 5 by means of apin 54 is connected to aspring 55 the other end of which is, connected to a stud 6 b projecting from the inside. of the wall l2; Asin the case of" the lever 51:, the end of the lever 5|: in which the'shaft 36. 'isjonrnalledhas a screw 68 extend ing through itiwhich abuts. the plate M and; by adjusting. thev screw 58? the front end of the stripper M can be. adjusted. relative to the stripper 40. Of course the; screws 58 and} 68 should both be turned: whenever it is desired to adjust the stripper 41: since it is desirable that the. axes of the: shafts 32 and 36' be' maintained parallel to eachjother 'It wi-ll; nowbe seen that if either one. of the levers 5| or 5| be moved against its spring 5501* the; rock shaft 58- will be turned and so therefore the other of these levers 5| and ul wi-l f be moved against its spring and this action withdraws the 'pad'dle 4| from the paddle 40 momentarily unmeshing the gear 35 from the gear" inland this is done fcr the purpose of threading the machi-ne, whereupon these parts may be allowed to more; back again to the position illustrated in the drawings;

For that purpose I provide, as shown in ures l, 2, 4 and 5; a knob fil on the front end of a shaft H which isjournal led in and extends through the wall I? and secured to which at the other end'thereoi an eccentric disc; l2 having a pin 13 normally engaging astationary pin it projecting from the inside of the wall l2. When" the knob 'lllis turned to move the pin '33 away from the pin 4, the eccentric; disc 'IZIengages the pin 64 and thus moves the; leyer fil a ainst its spring 65 andthi's action moves the stripper 4'] away from thestrippergfi so that the machine can be readily threaded? 'Figureb probably best c e sin r si s.c sarean ereaare positions;

Referring now to Figures 5'and 6, a chain 80 is continuously moved by a source of power and through reduction gearing which is not illustrated herein, since it is part of the main driving mechanism of the encapsulating machine and that is described in my patent above referred to. The chain 80 drives a sprocket gear 8| which is secured to a shaft 82 that extends from the vertical wall I through a bracket 83 and is journalled in the wall and in the bracket, the latter being secured in any suitable manner to the wall I0. Secured to the protruding end of the shaft 82 is a disc 84 having a slideway 85 in which are a fixed block 86 and a movable block 81. A screw 88 extends through and is journalled in the block 86 but can not move longitudinally relative thereto on account of an integral collar 89 and a bolt head 90 secured to the screw 88.

'The other end of the screw 88 extends into a threaded hole in the movable block 81, and it will now be seen that the block 81 can be adjusted in the slideway 85 by turning the bolt head 20.

Secured to and projecting from the block 81 is a stud 95. A long link 96 extends from the stud. to a pin 91 extending through and be tween the forked ends 98 of a forked block 99 which is keyed to a shaft I00 on the outer end of which is secured a collar IOI. It will therefore be seen that continuous rotation of the disc 84 .causes oscillations of the shaft I00, and the amplitude of these oscillations can be varied from zero up to a considerable number of degrees by adjustment of the block 81.

Still referring to Figures 5 and 6, the shaft I00 is journalled in the walls I0 and II and also in a bracket I04 secured to the bracket 83 and another collar I05 on the shaft I00 adjacent the bracket I04 prevents any longitudinal movement of the shaft to the right, Figure 5. Secured to the shaft I00 adjacent the wall I0 is a gear I06 which meshes with a gear I01 secured to the outer element of an overrunning clutch I08. The inner element of the overrunning clutch I08 is'secured to a shaft III. trated the mechanism of this overrunn'ing clutch I 08 since these are now standard articles readily .procurable and widely understood. This particular clutch I08 is set to revolve the shaft ||I intermittently in a counter-clockwise direction,

there is little or no lost motion or backlash in these overrunning clutches.

Near its rear end the shaft II I extends through and is journalled in the walls I0 and II. At its front end the shaft I I I is connected to the inner element of another over-running clutch I I4 the outer element of which is located in and supported by the wall I2 and a front plate I I5, being secured to the wall I2. This over-running clutch ||4 prevents retrograde movement of the mechanism responsive to the reaction of the network I1. Keyed to the front of the shaft III and desirably removable therefrom is a crank 1 whereby the shaft I may be turned in a forward direction as the over-running clutches do not prevent this but they do, prevent turning in a retrograde direction.

Referring now to Figures 2. 3.a.nd 5. a fluted I have not illusfective.

"steel roll I'is secured to theshaft III. This is one of" the take-up rolls. As shown in Figure 2, a gear I2| secured to the shaft I I I meshes with a gear I I2 which is secured to a fluted steel roll I23 which is the other of the take-up rolls. These rolls I20 and I23 grip the network I1 and move it downwardly intermittently. They grip it taut and enable the capsulating mechanism to die out good capsules from the network. The roll I23 is rotatably. mounted on a shaft I24 which as indicated in Figure 3 has an eccentric circular end piece' I25 journalled in a hole in the wall II. A

similar circular eccentric circular end piece I26 is shown in Figure 4 and this is journalled in the 'front plate I I 5. A pin I21 extends laterally from the end of the piece I26'which projects beyond the front of the plate II5. Connected to the end piece I26 is a circular plate I28 having a slot therein through which extends a screw I30 projecting from the plate II5. By moving the pin I21 clockwise, theroll 23 can be moved away from the roll I20 thus separating them for the purpose of threading the machine. The gears |2| and I22 will readily mesh and unmesh; The

screw 30 acts as astop. A large screw |3| extending through the plate H 5 from the bottom thereof and into the hole therein which journals the eccentric circular end piece I26 can be used to lock the shaft I24 in operative take-up position or in open position as desired.

Secured to and extending between the irregularly shaped levers 5| and 6| is a sheet metal deflector I which extends the length of the stripper 4| and beyond. On the other side of the network I1 secured to and extending between the housing 30 and the plate 41 is another deflector I36 and this extends the length of the stripper 40 and beyond. As well shown in Figure 3, these deflectors guide the capsules I5 over the take-up rolls I20 and I23 thus preventing them from be- I ing entrapped and smashed by these rolls.

I have found that not only are the strippers herein described very eifective for removing capsules but also that they vibrate the network H which has the effect of driving out air bubbles from the medicament before the capsules are sealed by the dies (not shown). They also appear to eliminate sticking of the network and/or the capsules to the dies and arbors (not shown). The strippers rotate in a forward direction, that is to strip the capsules downwardly and of course the rolls I20 and I23 move intermittently in a downward direction so therefore there is no tendency of the strippers to pull the network back if r for any reason the grip of the rolls is weak.

Thereby the strippers have no detrimentalaction upon the encapsulating operation proper and in fact they havebenefioial effects thereon. It is found in practice that about half of the capsules end up on one side of the network and half on the other. While by reason of the difference in sizes of the gears 3| and 35, the stripper 40 rotates a little faster than the stripper -4|, strippers rotating at the same rate would also be ef- By rotating them at different rates, however, the blades 42 on one side are not always opposite the blades 42 on the other side and this varying of phase relationship causes the blades to hit some capsules in onedirection and other capsules in the other direction and it is believed to be beneficial, at least it has been found to work well in actual practice. Consequently I prefer the arrangement shown and described. There is nothing wrong with Figure 3 in showing a'cap'sule I5 on either side of the network since asap-s74 inspection of Figure 5 shows that there is more one capsule to be removed at each level;

Each ofthe strippers 40 and M :rotates so fast that the peripheries of the paddles '42 move faster than the network I! when the network is moving. Thus at all times when capsules 15 come within reach of the blades they :are brushed downwardly and out of the network; Thence ftion, however, is'not positive insomuch as the blades 12 will bend and for this :reason :as well as onaccoun't of the out of phaserelationshipldescribed, the breaking of :a capsule intotwo halves is a rare occurrence. It will be :seen moreover that the strippers in combination with the defiectors achieve a sort. of pinching action to squeeze the capsules l5 out :of the network H and this action :is aided by "the downward move- .ment oftth'e network past the deflectors and again the out of phase relationship of the strippers causes this pinching action "to occur usually at one side or at the other of the network "I 1 rather than simultaneously on "both sides thereof.

However certain advantages of the invention would be achieved even if the strippers rotated in a retrograde direction to .force the capsules up in which case the "deflectors-would not be needed.

.It will thus he seen that there has been provided by this invention apparatus in which the various objects herei-nbeiore set forth together with many thoroughly practical advantages are successfully achieved. As many possible embodiments :may be made of the above invention and "as many changes might be made in the embodiment above set forth, it is to be understood that :all matter hereinbef-ore set forth or shown in'the l.

blades when they-are adjacent thenetwork move in the same directionias the network .is moved,

,said paddles being made of flexible material.

2. Apparatus asclaimedin claim 15in .Whichthe ,flexible material is flexible elastomer.

I 3. Apparatus as claimed in claim 2 having a pair of ;-deflectors extending across the network and between-the strippers and the take-up means,

J said deflectors extending close enough-to the .net-

work to prevent capsules from entering the take-up means.

V 4. Apparatus as claimed in claimB havingmovable mountings tor the bearingsiorone of the paddles and for .one of the deflectors, wherehyja paddle and a deflector canbemoved away .from

the other paddle and deflector for the purposeof threading the machine.

;5.; Apparatus as claimed in claim 4 in which the mechanism to rotate the paddles .is gearedto move one of the paddles a-ta greater speed than the other thereof.

- .6. Apparatus as claimed in claiml having a pair ctdeflectors extending across the network and between the strippers and the take-up means,

said deflectors extending close enough to the network to .prevent capsules vfrom entering the takeu me n Apparatus;as.claime'c'l.imclaimfiliavir gmov- 8 able'mountines for the bearing for one of the paddles and for one vof the deflectors, whereby a paddle and a deflector can be moved away from the other paddle and deflector for the purpose of threading the machine.

8. Apparatus as claimed in claim 7 in which the mechanism to rotate the paddles is geared to move one of the paddles ata greater speed than the other thereof.

-9. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 having movable mountings for the bearings for one of the paddles, whereby a paddle can he moved away from the other paddle for the purpose of threading the machine.

10. Apparatus as claimed in claim .9 in which the-mechanism to rotate the paddles is geared to move one of the paddles at a greater speed than theotherthereof.

1 1. Apparatus asv claimed in claim 1 in which the mechanism to rotate the paddles is geared to move .one of the paddles at .a greater speed than the other thereof.

- 12. Apparatus of the class described comprising a pair of parallel take-up rolls mounted for rotation with their surfaces spaced a small distance apart such as .to receive and take-up a network of gelatin in which capsules have been formed.

driving mechanism simultaneously but intermit- V tently to rotate said rolls in the same take-up direction, i. e. with adjacent surfaces moving in the samedirection. a pair of parallel paddles having flexible blades mounted ,for rotation on axes parallel to the axes of the take-up rolls and mechanism for rotating said paddles in directions of rotation with adjacent peripheries moving in the same direction whichis the same direction .as that in which the adjacent surfaces of the rolls move.

13. Apparatus as claimed in claim ;12 in which the mechanism for rotating "the paddles rotates them at diiferent speeds.

14. Apparatus as claimed in claim 13 having a pair of capsule deflectors one being between one take-up roll and the adjacent paddle, and the other deflector .being between the other take-up roll .and'the other paddle.

15. Apparatus as claimed in claiml4 in which the flexible blades are made of flexible elastomer.

16. Apparatus as claimed in claim 12 having a pair of capsule deflectors one being between one take-up roll and ,the adjacent paddle, and the other deflector being 'betweenthe other take-up roll-and the other paddle. I

17.. Apparatus as claimed in claim 16 in which the flexible blades are made of flexible elastomer.

.18. Apparatus as claimed in claim 12 in which .the flexible blades are made of ,flexible elastomer.

1.9. Apparatus oi the class described comprising a pair of capsule, strippers in the form of paddleslhaving long "blades, said blades being connected together, bearings for said paddles .mounti-ng .them close' together and substantially parallelto ,eachother, take-upmeans to move a network of gelatin ,in a given direction, said pad- .dles being llocatedone .on either side of said net- ,worrk,.,and mechanism to rotate said paddles, said paddles Jbeingmade of flexible material.

.20, .Apparaftusas claimed in claim 19 in which the mechanism to rotate the paddles is geared to move one of the ,paddles at agreater speed than the other thereof- REX LMOULE.

No references cited. 

